Yarn-feeding means



Aug. 8, 1939.

M. RICHTER YARN-FEEDING MEANS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1937 iNvErgfoR:

flwiflez;

TORNEY;

Q flaw B! Z MB Mum ifi mud m Aug. 8, 1939. mam- 2,168,884

l YARN-FEEDING MEANS Filed July 21. 1931 7. Sheets-Sheet 2 7 'INVEN'IZOR: mgwhm;

I TTORNEY 1939. M. RICHTER YARN-FEEDING MEANS '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 21, 1937 IN VENTOR ,1 l, a: flwklz'agg A TTOR I 7 Aug. 8, 1939.

7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR:

mar-#5012221;

A TTORNEY.

Aug. 8, 1939. M. RICHTER 2,168,884

YARN-FEEDING MEANS Filed July 21, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. RICHTER YARN-FEEDING MEANS Filed July 21, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 TTORNEY- 2M1 1939. M. RICHTER YARN-FEEDING MEANS heetk 7 Sheet Filed July 21, 1937 TTORNEY,

Patented Aug. 1939 2,168,884 YARN-FEEDING MEANS Max Richter, West Reading, Pa, asslgnor m Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 21, 1937, Serial No. 154,767

35 Claims.

it has heretofore been suggested to obtain the a result by various means; one such means com- 8 10 prising a special selector'friction box for change of connection from one yarn carrier to another, and another means comprising mechanism for operating separate friction boxes connected to the respective yarn carriers.

In each of the above-mentioned prior devices, the selecting meansdepends upon a separate pat tern device controlled from a drum or a. chain and involving all of the linkages, cams, and other elements usually accompanying such means, as 20 well as .much special mechanism locally associated with the friction boxes and disposed at otherplaces.

In the above mentioned, and other, machines it has further been usual to provide stops for the 25 carriers inwhich the inertia of the friction boxes, as well as that of the carriers, has been imposed on the stops such that, especially in high speed operation, delays, expense and other undesirable effects, such as damage to the fabric and to the 8 ag mach'lne parts have been sustained.

The inertia of the friction box and its assoted parts sometimes also causes incorrect timbetween the carriers and the sinkers and dividers by causing slippage of the box relative 35 to the friction rod at the beginning of strokes.

' Among the objects of my invention are to overcome objections to the prior art structures, and to provide a device that is an improvement, and has advantages, thereover.

Another object 91 the invention is to provide a much simpler device for accomplishing the same purposes, wherein the number and complication of parts are reduced and, in the form for V selecting a plurality of yarn carriers for opera- 45 tion in repeated cycles, the operation of the device is controlled by the yarn carriers.

Another object of the invention is to prov de, a mechanism in a form, as where it-isoperated in conjunction with a friction box, whereby a plurality of yieldable connections are provided be- ...1; tween a friction rod and each yarn carrier, one Y -poi the connections yielding at one time or pc- I 'sition in the knitting operation and another of the connections yielding at another time or position.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a knitting machine having a reciprocable element, such as a friction box driven by a friction rod, means for imparting to such element an initial impulse in addition to that imparted to, it 5 by its driving means whereby to avoid relative -movement between the driving and driven reciprocable members due to the driving impuls of the driving member.

Another object of the invention is to provide, 10 in combination with certain other features herein set forth, a shock distributor whereby shocks that haveheretofore been localized, or borne by single members, at certain locations, have part of this shock removed therefrom and imposed on another member..

Another object of the invention is to do away with the requirement for a special selector friction box, to avoid a special mechanism for selectively operating a plurality of friction boxes,

to provide an improved damping action between an actuator or driver and a yarn carrier whereby rebound of the carrier from its stops is prevented, and to provide a device that is an improvement over any prior device in which trip dogs and latches are employed as above mentioned.

, A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above-findicated character that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and effective in its operation.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of-the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship as hereinafter mor particularly pointed out in the claims.

a In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view having distance 40 breaks therein of a muitl-sectionfull fashion knitting machine including the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is asectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view, in front elevation, takenin the direction of the arrow ,A of Fig. 2 of the mechanism shown at the top of Fig; 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. '7; Fig. '6'is a sectional view taken along the line of Fig. 7; Fig. 7 isa sectional view taken along the line Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-0 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

. Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line I III of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow B of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I2--I2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 10, showing the parts in different positions;

Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 are diagrammatic views of yarn carrier bars and locally associated cooperating elements as related in successive stages of one cycle of operation.

In the drawings and description, only those parts necessary to a complete understanding of the invention have been set forth; further information as to the construction and operation of other elements not herein specifically pointed out, but which are usual and well known, being available in the pamphlet entitled Full Fashioned Knitting Machines", copyright 1920, and in the Reading Full Fashioned Knitting Machine Catalogues, copyright 1929 and 1935, published by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania, and in a pamphlet entitled Knitting Machine Lectures, published in 1935 by the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 7, the machine comprises, in general, a support or base including end frames I0, center frames, such as the center frame I4, a front beam I5, a back beam I9, and a center bed 24. Mounted on the base are a cam shaft 25, a back narrowing shaft 29, a narrowing head assembly H at each end of the machine, each including end stops S, an end stop spindle 30, end stop carrier nuts 34, a guide rod 35, narrowing nuts 39, a narrowing spindle 40, and a narrowing head actuating lever 44. A needle bar assembly N on the base includes needle bars, such as the bar 45, a needle bar bracket 49 for each needle bar, needles 50 and needle bar clamps 54. A cock box guide rail 55 and a connecting bar 59 are mounted on bracket portions 60 of the center bed 24. Carrier bars I-0 are'supported by brackets 04 mounted on the center bed 24, and further elements mounted on the base are a friction rod driving member 56, a friction box 10, plunger device P providing individual yielding drive connection between the friction box and each of certain of the carrier bars, and holding means or rebound stops LS and R8 for the carrier bars and mechanisms L and R. These stops are for operation by the bars to determine the sequence of operation of the bars by the device P.

Brackets 14 on the end stop guide rods 35 have arms 15 secured, as by screws 19, Fig. 3, to arms 00 of the end stop carrier nuts 34. The brackets 14 have arms 04 which carry, at the left and right hand ends of the machine, rods 09 and 90, respectively, projecting toward each other and carrying at the adjacent ends thereof blocks and 95 (Fig. 1), which blocks telescopically flt another rod 99 parallel, and adjacent to, the rods 09 and 90. The rods 09 and 90 are similarly supported in the brackets I4, as indicated in Fig. 5, in which the rod 90 has a cross bar 30 connected to two rods 91 parallel to the rod 00. Another cross bar 30 connects the rods 91 to each other and to a short rod III that is slidably journaled in a bearing portion or sleeve I00 for slight longitudinal movement therein, as will be hereinafter pointed out. As the narrowing heads H are operated toward and away from each other, the blocks 94 and 95 approach, and recede from, each other, respectively, to operate as stops for the friction box 10 which thereby engages the blocks at substantially the same instant that a yarn carrier bar engages its end stop S. This action prevents the concentrated impact of the bar and the box solely .against the end stops and more widely distributes the impact. A lever I04 (Fig. 2) having a handle I05 is carried by the friction box I0 to operate as the direct impact element of the box against the blocks 94 and 95, and to enable the lever I04 to be thrown out of the path of the blocks when it is desired to move the associated yarn carrier out of the knitting field.

The friction box I0, as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, so far as its cooperation with the friction rod or driver 66 is concerned, is of usual character, embodying a housing I09, and a hand lever IIO having a portion II4 for compressing a bowed leaf spring II5 against the shoes whereby the latter grip the friction rod 66.

The device P is carried by the friction box I0 at one end thereof, and, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9 has a main body or support portion H6 in which plmigers II, I2 and I3 associated with the yarn carrier bars I, 2 and 3, respectively, are longitudinally slidably supported for movement at right angles to the carrier bars.

As seen in Fig. 8, the body I I6 has a half sleeve portion I19 cooperating with a half sleeve member I20, secured thereto by screws I24 to provide a full sleeve about the friction rod 56 whereby the body has sliding fit on the rod. The friction box housing I09 and the body IIG of the device P are connected to each other by a bridge member I25 and screws I20.

As indicated in Fig. 9, each plunger, like the plunger I2, is of elongated fiat strap character having a depressed side face I29 and edge flanges I30 rendering the plungerlof substantially I- beam character. This structure reduces frictional contact on the broad side faces with a bearing liner I33 in the body H6 and the plate I, and on the narrow edge faces with liners I34. Rollers 2I, 22 and 23 are journaled in the lower ends of the plungers i I, I2 and I3, respectively by pins I35.

Cross beams I36 at the upper ends of the plungers II, I2 and I3 have end pins I30 through which the plungers are connected by tension springs I39 to pins I40 at the lower portion of the body I I5 whereby to force the plungers downwardly. A plate III, Fig. 4, is secured to the body 0, as by screws I42.

The carrier bars I, 2 and 3 are provided with top edge liners 3I, 32 and 33, respectively, of inverted substantially U-shape in cross section fitted downwardly over the bars and secured thereto as by rivets I44. The liners 3|, 32 and 33, see Figs. 14-19, are respectively constructed in longitudinal sections divided at points I45 opposite notches 4|, 42 and 43 each having the shape in side elevation of the cross section of an inverted frustum into which the rollers are forced by the springs I39 to bear against the sloping sides slightly clear of the bottom surfaces of the notches.

The end selector mechanisms L and R are similar in construction and operation except as modifled by their right and left hand relation, and, as better seen in Figs. 4, 10, 11, 12 and 13, each comprises a body I41 se'curedby screws I48 to a bracket I49 that. is fixed to the adjacent carrier and plungers'iil, 52 and 53 of the mechanism R,- see Figs. 14-19, are vertically slidably mounted. in the body I41 arid held therein, as by plates I5 I I.

the upper plate of which is held to the body by screws I52 and the lower plate of which is held by the screws I48 and other of the screws 'I52. The plungers are biased downwardly, or toward the carrier bars, as by tension springs I53 connected between pins I54 on the reciprocable plungers and hook-like projections I55 on the plate I5I. ,fi

Each plunger 5|, 52, 53, 5|. 52 and 53 has a lower end for direct cooperation with its corresponding carrier bar I, 2 or 3; the plungers'5I, 52 and 53 of the mechanism L cooperating with dogs 1|, 12 and 13 and the plungers 5|, 52 and 53 of the mechanism R cooperating with dogs 8|, 82

and 83 having cam, faces and plunger stop co-* operating shoulders, and carried by ,the carrier bars I, 2 and 3, respectively.

Each plunger 5|, 52 and 53 also carries a portion for cooperation with another carrier; the

plunger 5| having a cam follower portion 93' portion I03 for cooperation with a sloping cam surface of the dog 83, the. plunger 52 has a cam follower portion I0| for cooperation with a sloping cam surface of the dog 8|, and the plunger 53 has a cam follower portion I02 for coopera- .tion with a sloping cam surface of the dog 82.

The plungers may be raised to an inoperative position as by a member |2I which cooperates with the pins I54 of the plungers 5|, 52 and 53, see Figs. 10 and 13. The plungers 5|, 52.. and 53 are similarly raised. The member I2I is provided with high and low surfaces I22 and I23 for engagement with a stud I21 secured to the bracket I41. The member I is connected to one end of a lever I25'which is pivoted at I3| to the bracket I41, the other end of lever I28 having an extension I32 for engagement with a 1 fixed part of the bracket I41.

By turning the lever I28 in a clockwise direction so that the extension I32 is moved into engagement with the bracket I41, the member I2 I is moved from the position of Fig; 10, in which the low surface of ,member |2| is in engagement with the stud I21, to the position of Fig. 13, in which the high surface is in engagement with the stud, raising the plungers to an inoperative position. 2

"Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 6 and 7, carrier bar rebound stop devices LS and RS, associated with the selector mechanisms L and B, respectively,

A blade I51, operating in a groove I58 in'the member I50 under the pins I63 to raise and lower the plungers I51, is secured, as by screws I59, Figs. 5 and 7, to one arm I10 of a lever "I that is pivotally journaled on the guide rod 35 and has another arm I12 having a iorklike portion I15 carrying a rod I15'fixed to 'the rod as by collar and set screw devices I11. The arm I10 operates between the short bars 91, or in a position such that, if it did not operate in this position, the rods 90 and I00 could be in one piece. Each rebound stop device 18 and RS, being secured to the adjacent end stop carrier nut 34, causes the rod I.15, when the nut 34 is ad: justed during narrowing,to slide through one end I18 of one arm I19 of a lever I that is pivotally mounted by a shaft I82 to a bracket I03 that is fixed, as by screws I84, to the back beam I9. The lever I80 has a second arm I85 carrying a roller follower, I88 for cooperation with a cam I81' on the cam shaft 25, and a third'arm I88 between which and a bracket I92 secured to the back beam I9, as by a set screw I93, a tension spring I94 extends to bias the lever I80 counterclockwise about the axis of the shaft I82, as.

viewed in Fig. 7, and to press the follower I85 against the cam I81. A hand lever I95 pivotally mounted on the blade I 51 near the lever arm I10 of the lever I1I, has a cam portion at its front end for operation against a portion of the member I50. In the position of the hand lever I85 of Fig. 7, the lever HI and the blade I 51 are free to operate, but, by turning the handle I95 counterclockwise, as viewed in this figure, the blade I51 may be lifted against the action of the springs I52- and locked in inactive position to lift the plungers I 51 and'lock them in inactive position relative to the carrier bars.

The lever "I has a side lug I91 in which is disposed a screw I98 for contact with one arm I99 of a lever 200 that is pivotally mounted by a shaft 202 on the bracket 14 of the end stop carrier has another arm 203 for eng each revolution of the cam nut 34. The lever 200, at one if: of the machine,

s aft 25 with the corresponding rod I00 to impart a short lengthimpart a like movement, in the opposite direction,

through the adjacent rods 91, to the rod 59'. 4 The rods I00, at the respective ends of the machine.

OPERATION In the following description of one cycle of the operation of the yarn carrier mechanism, in which the conditions existing during each coulier stroke of the. three carrier operation are set forth, since these conditions are similar during all the strokes, the descriptions of the several strokesthroughout a full three carrier cycle are similar except for. the transposition of like'pa'rts indicated by their reference characters.

Stroke of carrie'r'bar 3 to the right Referring to Figs. 14 to 19, inclusive, as moicated in Fig. 14, the carrier bar 3 has just com- 1 ement, once with pleted a stroke to the right against end stop S, to which it has been driven by the device P having the roller 23 of the plunger I3 in the notch 43. At the end of the stroke, the roller 23 remains in the notch 43, the friction box I3 being stopped by the block 35. Also, during the above mentioned stroke of the carrier bar 3 to the right, the roller 22 is moved out of its notch 42 to roll idly-along the top edge liner 32 of its bar 2, and the roller 2I is moved idly along the liner 3| of its bar I to position in its notch 4| at the end of the stroke.

When thebar 3 completes its above mentioned stroke to the right, its dog 33 raises the plunger 53 which drops to position to hold the dog 33 after it passes the plunger 53 and engages the follower I03 to raise the plunger 5| out of the path of the dog 3| on the carrier bar I. The latter, thus released for movement to the left, when the coulier motion reverses to so move the bar I, the rebound stop device RS is actuated to release position, and the bar I is moved to the left by the roller 2I in the notch H to the position of Fig, 15. During this action, the bar 3 is held at the right hand end of its stroke by the lower end of the plunger 63 against the left hand end of the dog 83, and (see Fig. 4) by the associated plunger I51 of the rebound stop device RS.

Stroke of carrier bar 1 to the left Movement of the bar I to the left against an end stop S is effected by the device P having the roller 2| of the plunger II in the notch 4|. At the end of the stroke, the roller 2| remains in the notch 4|, the friction box III being stopped by the block 94. Also, during the stroke of the carrier bar I to the left, the roller 23 is moved out of its notch 43 to roll along the edge liner 33 of its bar 3, and the roller 22 is moved idly along its bar 2 to position in its notch 42 at the end of the stroke.

When the bar I completes its stroke to the left, its dog II raises the plunger 5| which drops to position to hold the dog II after it passes the plunger 5|; and engages the follower 3I to raise the plunger 52 out of the path of the dog I2 on the carrier 2. The latter thus released for movement to the right, when the coulier motion reverses to so move the bar 2, the rebound stop device LS rises and the bar 2 is moved to the right by the roller 22 in the notch 42 to the position of Fig. 16. During this action the bar I is held at the left end of its stroke by the lower end of the plunger 5| against the right hand end .of the dog II and by the associated plunger I5I of the rebound stop device LS. I

Stroke ofcarrier bar 2 to the right Movement of the bar 2 to the right against an end stop S is eifected by the device P having the roller 22 of the plunger I2 in the notch 43. At the end of the stroke, the roller 22 remains in the notch 42, the friction box 13 being stopped by the block 35. Also, during the stroke of thecarrier bar 2 to the right, the roller 2| is moved out of its notch 4| to roll along the edge liner 3| of its bar I, and the roller 23 is moved idly along its bar 3 to position in its notch 43 at the end of the stroke.

When the bar 2 completes 'Its stroke to the right, its dog 32 raises the plunger 32which drops to positron to hold the dog 32 after it passes the plunger 62, and engages the follower I32 to raise the plunger 33 out of the path of thedogflonthecarrierl Theiatterthus amaau released for movement to the left, when the coulier motion reverses to so move the bar 3, the rebound stop device RS rises and the bar 3 is moved to the left by the roller 23 in the notch 43 to the position of Fig. 17. During this action, the bar 2 is held at the right end of its stroke by the lower end of the plunger I52 against the left hand end of the dog 82 and by the associated plunger I51 of the rebound stop device RS.

Stroke of carrier bar 3 to the left Movement of the bar 3 to the left against an end stop S is effected by the device P having the roller 23 of the plunger I3 in the notch 43. At the endof the stroke, the roller 23 remains in the notch 43, the friction box I0 being stopped by the block 34. Also, during the stroke of the carrier bar 3 to the left, the roller 22 is moved out of its notch 42 to roll along the edge liner 32 of its bar 2, and the roller 2| is moved idly along its bar I to position in its notch 4| at the end of the stroke.

When the bar 3 completes its stroke to the left, Its dog I3 raises the plunger 53 which drops to position to hold the dog 13 after it passes the plunger 53, and engages the follower- 33 to raise the plunger 5| out of the path of the dog II on the carrier I. The latter thus released for movement to the right, when the coulier motion reverses to so move the bar I, the rebound stop device LS rises and the bar I is moved to the right by the roller 2| in the notch 4I to the position of Fig. 18. During this action, the bar 3 is held at the left end of its stroke by the lower end of the plunger 53 against the right hand end of the dog I3 and by the associated plunger I51 of the rebound stop device LS.

Stroke of carrier bar 2 to the left Movement of the bar 2 to the left against an end stop S is effected by the device P having roller 22 of the plunger I2 in the notch 42. At the end of the stroke, the roller 22 remains in the notch 42, the friction box I0 being stopped by the block 34. Also, during the stroke of the carrier bar 2 to the left, the roller 2| is moved out of the notch 4| to roll along the edge liner 3| of its bar I, and the roller 23 is moved idly along its bar 3 to position in its notch 43 at the end of the stroke. When the bar 2 completes its stroke to the left, its dog I2 raises the plunger 52 which drops to position to hold the dog I2 after it passes the plunger 52, and engages the follower 32 to raise the plunger 53 out of the path of the :dog I3 on the carrier bar 3. The latter thus released for movement to the right, as set forth in the first written section of operation hereinabove set forth, when the coulier motion reverses to so move the bar 3, the rebound stop device LS raises and the bar 3 is moved to the right by the roller 23 in the notch 43 to the position of Fig. 14. During this action, the bar 2 is held at the left end of its stroke by the lower end of the plunger 52 against the right hand end of the dog I2 and by the associated plunger I" of the rebound stop device LS.

Stroke of carrier bar 1 to the right Movement of the bar I to the right against an end stop 8 is eifected by the device P having the roller 2| of the plunger II in the notch 4|.

At the end of the stroke, the roller 2| remains in the notch 4|, the friction box Ill being stopped by the block 35. Also, during the stroke of the carrier bar I to the right, the roller 23 is moved 7 out of its notch 43 to roll along the edge liner $3 of its bar 3, and the roller 22 is moved idly intermediately carry the yarn for laying it to.

along its bar 2 to position in its notch 42 at the end of the stroke.

When the bar I completes its.stroke to the right, its dog 8! raises the plunger 6| which drops to position to hold the dog 8| after it passes the plunger 6i, and engages the follower Ill to raise the plunger 82 out of the path of the dog 82 on the carrier bar 2. The latter thus released for movement to the left, when the coulier motion reverses to so move the bar 2, the rebound stop device RS rises and the bar is moved to the left by the roller 22 in the notch 2 to the position of Fig. 19. During this action, the bar I is held at the right end of its stroke by the lower end of the plunger 6| against the left hand end of the dog H and by the associated plunger I51 of the rebound stop device BS.

The above-described movements of the carrier bars i, 2 and 8 carry them through a complete cycle of movement of carrier bar 3 from left to right to its position ,of Figfl l, the carrier bar I to the left from the position of Fig. 14 to the position of Fig. 15, the movement of carrier bar 2 to the right from the position of Fig. 15 to the position of Fig. '16, the movement of the carrier bar 3 to the left from its position of Fig. 16 to the position of Fig. 1'7, the movement of the carrier bar ,i to the right from its position of Fig. 17 to its position of Fig. 18, and the movement of the bar 2 to the left from its position of Fig. 18 to its position of Fig. 19. The next movement therefore is the movement of carrier bar 8 to the right from itsposition of Fig. 19 to its position of Fig. 14 to start a new cycle of the order set forth which is repeated throughout the knitting with the carriers 8, 2 and 3.

The term carrier herein is intended to mean any member or element, such as a carrier bar, a yarn guide finger on the bar and equivalents of these and other elements, which mediately or the needles.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by. which I obtain the above results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim: I

1. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yam carriers to be driven by! said member,.means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and the carriers, means including an element on each carrier cooperating with one of said firstelements for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, and means for selectively holding and releasing the carriers relative to the driver for preventing drive of a. carrier and causing yield of said second connection thereof to the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released fdr drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable connection to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier.

' '2. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said member, means having first yieldable connection to the. driver and inclu in elements providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and the carriers, means including an element on each carrier cooperating with one of said first elements for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, and carrier controlled .means for selectively holding and'releasing .the carriers relative to the driver for preventing drive of a carrier and causing yield of said second connection thereof to the driver when held by the holding means and providing.

when the carrier is released for drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable connection to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier. Y

3. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said member, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and certain of the carriers, means including an element on each of said certain carriers cooperating with one of said first elements providing for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldmains connected to the carrier.

4. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said member, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and three of the carriers, means including an element on each of the three carriers cooperating with one of said first elements providing fordrive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, and carrier-operated means for selectively holding and releasing the three carriers relative to the driver in repeated cycles of predetermined sequence for preventing drive of each of the three carriers and causing yield of the connection thereof to the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the' carrier is released for drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable cohnectlons to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable ponnection remains connected to the carrier.

'- 5. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said mem-'.

ber, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and certain of the carriers, means including an element on each of said certain carriers cooperating with one of said first elements providing for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, and carrier-operated means for selectively holding and releasing said certain carriers relative to the driver in repeated cycles of predetermined sequence for preventing drive of each of said certain carriers and causing yield of the connection thereof to the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable connections to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier, said carrier operated means including a movably mounted latch associated with eachlof said certain carriers, each latch having means for direct locking engagement with one of said certain carriers and means operatively related thereto for engagement with another of said certain carriers, and means on said certain carriers disposed to act upon said operatively related means for moving the related latch out of locking engagement with its associated carrier. I

6. In a, knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said mem-' ber, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements providing sec ond yieldable connection individually between said means and three of the carriers, means including an element on each of said three carriers cooperating with one of said first elements providing for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, and carrier-operated means for selectively holding and releasing said three car riers relative to the driver in repeated cycles of predetermined sequence for preventing drive of each'of said three carriers and causing yield of the connection thereof, to the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable connections to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier, said carrier operated means including a movably mounted latch associated with each of said three carriers, each 'iatch having means for direct locking engagement with one of said three carriers and means operatively related thereto for engagement with another of the three carriers, and means on said three carriers disposed to act upon said operatively related means for moving the related latch out of locking engagement with its associated carrier.

7. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carrier bars to be driven bysaid member, means including structure carried by, and having first yieldable connection to, the driver and elements carried by said structure providlng second yieldable connection individually between the structure and the carrier bars, there being only one such yieldable connection between each carrier bar and said structure, means including an element on each carrier bar intermediate the ends thereof cooperating with one of said first elements providing for drive.of the corresponding carrier bar by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, and means for selectively holding and releasing the carrier bars relative to the driver for preventing drive of a carrier bar and causing yield of the second yieldable connection thereof to said structure when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier bar is released for drive by the drive through both the first and second yieldable connections to a position at which the-first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier bar.

8. In a knitting machine, a reclprocable driver member, a yarn carrier to be driven by said member, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including an element providing second yieldable connection between said means and the carrier, means including an element on the carrier cooperating with said first element for drive of the carrier through both said yieldable connections, and means for holding and releasing the carrier relative to the driver for preventing drive of the carrier and causing yield of said second connection thereof to the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for drive by the driver through both said yieldable connections to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier.

9. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, a yarn carrier to be driven by said member, means including a structure carried by, and having first yieldable connection to, the driver and an element carried by said structure providing second yieldable connection between said structure and the, carrier, there being only one such yieldable connection between the carrier and said structure, an element on the carrier cooperating with said first element providing for drive of the carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, and means for holding and releasing the carrier relative to the driver for preventing drive of the carrier and causing yield of the second connection thereof to said structure when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable connections to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier.

10. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, a yarn carrier bar to be driven by said member, means including a structure carried by and having first yieldable connection to, the driver and an element carried by said structure providing second yieldable connection between said structure and the carrier bar, means including an element on the carrier bar intermediate the ends thereof cooperating with said first element providing for drive of the carrier bar by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, and meansfor holding and releasing the carrier bar relative to the driver for preventing drive of the carrier bar and. causing yield of the second connection thereof to said structure when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier bar'is released fordrive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable connections to a position at which the first yieldable connection yieldsand the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier bar.

11. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said member, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements at fixed positions relative thereto'in the direction of reciprocation thereof providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and the carriers, means including an element on each carrier cooperating with one of said first elements providing for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, and carrier-operated means for selectively holding and releasing drive-of a carrier and causing yield of the connection thereof to the driver when.held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable connections to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier.

12. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said member, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements at fixed positions relative thereto in the direction of reciprocation thereof providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and the carriers, there being only one such yieldable connection between each carrier and the driver, means including an element on each carrier cooperating with one of said first elements providing for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, and means for selectively holding and releasing the carriers relative to the driver for preventing drive of a carrier and cansing yield of the connection thereof to the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for drive by the driver through both the first. and second yieldable connections to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier.

13. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said member, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and the carriers, an element on each carrier cooperating with one of said first elements for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver though both said yieldable connections, means for selectively holding and releasing the carriers relative to the driver for preventing drive of a carrier and causing yield of said second connection thereof to the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for drive by the driver through both said yieldable connections to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier, and shock-distributing means for substantially s multaneously engaging portions on said first means and the carrier selected for. actuation, respectively, at said position.

14. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said member, a narrowing carriage, stops for the yarn carriers mounted on the narrowing carriage, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements providing second yieldable connection individually between said yarn carrier cooperating with one of said first elements for drive of the corresponding yarn carrier by the driver through both said yieldable connections, meansior selectively holding and releasing the carriers relative to the driver for preventing drive or a carrier and causing yield 01' said? second connection thereolto the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for said drive by the driverthrough both said yieldable connections to a position determined by corresponding of said stops at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier, and shock-distributing means carried by the narrowing carriage for stopping said first means substantially in unison with'stopping of the carriers of said stops.

15. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, a yarn carrier to be driven by said memoi the carrier and causing yield of said second 15 connection thereof to the driver when held by. the holding means and providing when the car- Y rier is released for drive by the driver through both said yieldable connections to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and 20 the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier, and shock-distributing means for substantially simultaneously engaging portions onsaid first means and the carrier, respectively, at. said position.

25 16. In a knitting machine, a rec1procable driver member, a yarn carrier to be driven by said member, a narrowing carriage, stops for the carrier mounted on the carriage, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and includin an element providing second yieldable connection between said means and the carrier, an element on the carrier cooperating with said first element for drive of the carrier by the driver through both said yieldable connections, means for holding and releasing the carrier relative to the driver for preventing drive of the carrier and causing yield of said second connection thereof to the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for drive by the driver through both said yieldable 'connections to a position determined by said stops at which the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier, and shock-distributing means carried by the narrowing carriage for stopping said first means substantially each direction oi reciprocation and adapted to release the driver from the carrier solely by the pull of the driver member when the carrier is held by said holding means. means and the yarn carriers, an element on each means.

19. In a lrnitt lng'machine, a reciprocable mem-'- ber, a driver member yieidabiy connected thereto,

a yarn carrier bar to'be driven by said reciprocable member through said driver member, means for holding the carrier against, and releasing it for, driving by the driver member, and means operated entirely by, and between, the driver and the carrier bar at a position between the ends of the bar for driving the bar by the driver in each direction of reciprocation and adapted to release the driver from the carrier solely by the pull of the driver member when the carrier is held by adapted to release the driver from the carrier solely by the pull of the driver member when the carrier is held by said holding means.

21. In a knitting machine. a reciprocable mem-' ber, a driver member yieldably connected thereto, a yarn carrier bar to be driven'by said reciprocable member through said driver member, means for holding the carrier against, and releasing it for, driving by the driver member, and means including an element spring biased laterally to the bar between the bar and the driver for driving the carrier by the driver in each direction of reciprocation and adapted to release the driver from the carrier solely by the pull of the driver member when the carrier is held by said holding means.

22. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, a yarn carrier bar to be driven by said member, means for holding and releasing. the bar, a spring biased plunger carried by the driver and acting laterally toward the bar, and a roller on the plunger for cooperation with an element on the bar for driving the bar by the driver when the bar is released and for travel along the bar when the bar is held.

23. In a knitting machine, a reciprocabledriver member, a plurality of yarn carrier bars to be driven by said member, a plurality of spring biased plungers carried by the driver each acting laterally toward one of the bars, an element on each plunger for cooperation with an element intermediate the ends of its associated carrier bar for driving the bar by the driver when the bar is released and slip releasable from the bar therealong for travel along the bar when the bar is held, and means operated by the bars including. a movably mounted latch'associated with each of the bars, each latch having means for direct locking engagement with one of the bars and means operatively related thereto for engagement with another bar, and means on the bars disposed. to act upon said operatively related means for moving the related latch out of locking engagement with its associated bar.

24. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable member, a driver member yieldably connected thereto, a yarn carrier to be driven by said reciprocable member through said driver member, means op-' erating entirely by, and between, the driver and the carrier for driving the carrier by the driver in each direction of reciprocation and adapted to release the driver from the carrier solely by the pull of the driver member when the carrier is held, and 'carrier holding and releasing means operative at the ends of each carrier stroke.

25. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn.carriers to be driven by said member, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including'elements providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and the carriers, means including an element on each carrier cooperating with one of said first elements providing for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, carrier operated means for selectively holding and releasing the carriers relative to the driver for preventing drive of a carrier and causing yield of" the second connection thereof to the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for said drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable connectio' to a position at which the first yieldable conn tion yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier, and carrier holding and releasing means operative at the ends of each carrier stroke.

26. In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven thereby. means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and the carriers, means including an element on each carrier cooperating with one of said first elements for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, means for selectively holding and releasing the carriers relative to the driver for preventing drive of a carrier and causing yield, of said second connection thereof to the. driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for said drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable connection to a position at which the first yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier, and carrier holding and releasing means operative at the ends of each carrier stroke.

27. In a hiitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said member, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements at fixed positions relative thereto in the direction of reciprocation thereof providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and the carriers, means including an element on each carrier cooperating with one of said first elements providing for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, carrier-operated means for selectively holding and releasing the carriers relative to the driver for preventing drive of a carrier and causing yield of the connection thereof to the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for said drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable connections to a position at which the first connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier, and carrier holding and releasing means operative at the ends of each carrier stroke.

28.In a knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said member, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and including elements providing second yieldable connection individually, between said means and certain of the carriers, means including an element on each of said certain carriers cooperating with one of said first elements providing for. drive of the corresponding carrier byt the driver through both said first and second yieldable connections, and carrier-operated means for selectively holding and releasing said certain carriers relative to the driver in repeated cycles of predetermined sequence for preventing drive of each of said certain carriers and causing yield of the connection thereof to the driver when held. by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for said drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable con- 41 nections to a position at which the first connec- 'tion yields and the second connect'on remains connected to the carrier, and carrier holdin and releasing means operative at the ends of each carrier strok 29. In a kn ttingmachine, a reciprocable driver element, yarn carrier elements to be driven by said driver element, means having first yieldable connection to the driver and includingportions providing second yieldable connection individually' between said means and the carrier elements, means including a portion on each carrier cooperating with one of said first portions providing for drive of the corresponding carrier element by the driver element through both said first and second yieldable connections, carrier element operatedmeansfor selectively holding and .releasingthe carrier elements relative to the driver element for preventing drive of a carrier element and causing yield of the connection thereof to the driver element when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier is released for said drive by the driver element through both the first and second yieldable connections to a positionat which the first connection yields and the second connection remains connected to the carrier element, and means for imposing an impulse on one of said elements in addition toils reciprocable impulse at the begin- 'ning of each stroke in each direction.

. so. in; knitting machine, a reciprocable driver member, yarn carriers to be driven by said member, means having first yieldable connection to the-driver and including portions providing second yieldable connection individually between said means and the"'carrier s, means including *a portion on each carrier cooperating with one of said first*portions providing for drive of the corresponding carrier by the driver through both -said first and second yieldable connections, car rier operated means for selectively holding and releasing the carriers relative to the driver for preventing drive of a carrier and causing yield of the connection thereofto the driver when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier "is released for said drive by the driver through both the first and second yieldable connections to a position at which thejfirst yieldable connection yields and the second yieldable connection remains connected to the carrier, and means for imposingan impulse on the driver in addition to its reciprocable impulse at the beginning of each'stroke in each direction.

31. In a straight-knitting machine, a friction rod, a friction box; yarncarrier bars, means in'-- cluding elements carried by the friction box providing individual yieldable connection between the friction box and the carrier bars. means including an element on each carrier bar cooperating with one of said friction box elements providing for drive of the corresponding carrier bar by the friction rod through both the box and said yieldable connection, carrier bar operated'means for selectively holding and releasing the bars relative to the friction'box for preventing drive of a carrier bar and causing yield of the connection thereof to the friction box when held by the holding means and providing when the carrier bar is released for said drive by the friction box through the yieldahle connection to a position at which the friction box yields relative to the friction rod andsaid yieldable connection remains connected to thecarrier bar, and means for imposing an impulse on the friction box in addition to its reciprocable impulse at the beginning of each stroke. in each direction irrespective of the 20 lengths of the strokes.

32. In a knitting machine, a friction box, means for reciprocating said box, a plurality of yarn carrier bars and means adapted to drive them from said box, groups of stops for said bars at 28 separated points and meins for moving the stops to decrewetand increase the distance between the groups, and means movable with said stops and adapted to give said box a starting impulse at the beginni'n'g of each stroke in each direction in so addition to the impulse from said reciprocating means. I 1

38. In a knitting machine, in combination, a reciprocable drive element, a reciprocable'yarn carrier element to be driven by said driver element, means for establishing a driving connection between said elements, and 'means independent of said driver element for imposing an impulse on said yarn carrier element in the direction of, and in addition to, its impulse from said driver element at the beginning of each stroke of said driver element in each direction irrespective of the position of the yarn carrier element at the beginning of "its stroke.

34. In a knitting "machine in combination, a reciprocable friction box rod, friction box thereon, a yarn carrier element to be driven by said box, means for establishing driving connection between said box and element, and means independent of said friction rod for imposing an impulse on said friction box in the starting direction x at the beginning of each stroke of saidrod irrespective of the pomtlon of theyarn carrier element.

85. In' a knitting machine, in combinatioma reciprocable friction rod, a friction box thereon, a yarn-carrier element to be driven by said box,

' means for establishing driving connection between .said box and element. means independent of said friction rod for imposing an impulse on said friction box in the starting direction at the beginning of each stroke of said rod, and automatic means for adjusting said impulse imposing means to maintain cooperative relations between it and said friction box when the box is in differ- 

